I finished 6th at Clevedon today in 19.46, a fast time, partly a result of racing Dan M. over the last mile, and partly thanks to excellent running conditions. Ben Noad comfortably extended his current winning streak to 2 years, James T's second place was popuar with the local crowd, and Gary  D. finished 3rd, ahead of a strong field! Kate Reed reset her course record by 18 seconds, and it was good to see Heidi running strongly on the road.
 
The start is always a scramble to get through the narrow first part of the course, this year was no exception, after a short delay with the timing arrangements Andy Heyes sorted it all out, and the race started in cold still weather. An early leading group quickly formed, the pace isn't going to worry Ben, Kate sensibly keeps out of elbowing range at the front for a few hundred meters. Dave Bishop and Tim Wallis were well up and Mark Cowen looked the very able athlete he is. Craig also looks quality, he didn't really compete early on, he got into the race as the middle distance boys tired (Mike has him on a heavy training schedule). Meanwhile the vets were keeping their powder dry, Martin H. was running, but I'm not sure about racing and Dan was holding steady.

Ben drifted away near halfway, this year he really was in a class above the rest of the field. Gary and James settled into second and third, two top middle distance men showing the road boys how it's done. I gather James won out in the last half mile - I couldn't see them by then.

I haven't been running that close to Dave B. before, and indeed he does look an out and out racing thorough-bred, he was breathing quite hard before the hill, but he's a good competitor, and worked hard to finish fourth. Craig got stronger throughout the race, while Tim found it difficult to hold his early pace over the distance (I think he might have slowed down to give Kate a little more encouragement).

At one point I caught the youngsters up and felt in my element as I briefly thought about moving up the road towards Gary, but the hill did not go at all well for me. As I dropped places, Dan moved up the field and was close behind me. Fortunately for me, we were getting near the last mile by now, most of the run-in is fast down hill, and although Dan made a very determined effort, getting ahead of me a few hundred meters out, the finishing line was soon in sight, and I could finally engage the hamstrings in anerobic mode (start sprinting).

I'm not sure that Kate was aware of how far inside her course record she was (18s) - and perhaps she would have slowed down so that she can break it a few more times had she known - whatever she's really impressive over this sort of distance on the road - best of luck to her over the country in Belfast on 6th Jan.

Heidi was comfortably 2nd, stronger than the two local youngsters Steph B, 3rd and Emma R, 4th who really looked at home against more accomplished opposition. Helen F, more often to be found on the fell or country laltely, ran one of her best road races in 5th, and Sian ran very well in 6th, a peformance that would have won most local road races.

...and finally, 'Gaz'  Davenport put his excellent run down to the advice from his Dad (Pete) who had run the race in a previous year, and was able to tell Gary all about the hill - Gaz told us ... to be fair to him he should know more about the hill than I do, he was on it  for nearly ten minutes  :)